Is the KKK growing or shrinking? It depends on whom you ask. The Anti-Defamation League released a report earlier this month that said the Ku Klux Klan is undergoing "a surprising and troubling resurgence,'' largely by exploiting "hot-button issues including immigration, gay marriage and urban crime.'' Hogwash, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. It says the KKK actually has been shrinking since 2000, both nationwide and here in Indiana. It's an issue of local interest, because the Church of the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan has its headquarters in Osceola. The imperial wizard, or national leader, of the group is Railton Loy, a Mishawaka resident. CNN News broadcast an interview with him earlier this month. He was wearing his Klan costume and used his Klan alias, Ray Larsen, for the interview. CNN reporter Deborah Feyerick asked him about the immigration issue. "Illegal immigrants is bringing us far more members than we had when we were just totally against any ethnic group,'' Loy responded. When I called him to talk about the issue, Loy said, "I have nothing to say, ma'am." Then he hung up. The Southern Poverty Law Center, like the Anti-Defamation League, monitors the KKK and other hate groups. Mark Potok, its Intelligence Project director, said his numbers show a drop in KKK membership over the past few years. At the very least, numbers are static rather than growing. In 2000, Potok said, Indiana had 18 known hate groups, of which seven were Klan. In 2005, it had 15 hate groups, of which seven were Klan. Although the 2006 figures are just now being compiled, Potok said, "our research shows a definitive drop in the Klan in 2006.'' On the other hand, he continued, hate groups have been growing nationwide. The SPLC was aware of 602 hate groups in 2000, but 803 in 2005. He expects the final figures to show a 3 percent to 5 percent growth in hate groups for 2006. Potok said he doubts that the Klan has led hate group growth, but he agrees with the ADL's conclusion that an anti-immigration feeling is behind the growth. From the point of view of the hate groups, Potok said, immigration is an issue that works very well. Three out of four Americans say something has to be done about illegal immigrants, he said. It's a racial issue for hate groups, he said, because "it's about people with brown skin." Lonnie Nasatir, regional director of the ADL's office in Chicago, said it's possible that membership in the Klan is growing even if the number of chapters is shrinking. Adam Schupack, associate director, echoed that comment. He said the National Knights claim to have at least 20 chapters around the country, and many of its activities last year were held in other states. "In Osceola we haven't been hearing a lot," he said. The National Knights had a rally in Pauline, S.C., in May and an anti-immigration event in Russellville, Ala., that same month. The Russellville event had about 50 participants, Schupack said, "which for these kinds of events is a pretty good turnout." If the National Knights organization is growing, it hasn't been apparent at its rural Osceola headquarters. Neighbors report very little activity there. The group's annual White Pride Fest last August attracted only about a couple of dozen participants. Neighbors said the group did not appear to have its annual Christmas party in December, although it might have been at a different location. Neighbors also did not see much activity at the Klan farm last April, the month when the National Knights had been staging an annual party in celebration of Adolf Hitler's birthday. "We can't really see that there's more activity over there," said Barbara Franklin, who lives three doors away from the Klan farm. Nancy Kling, who lives two doors away from the Klan, agreed that very little has been going on there. Their assessment is shared by county police, who monitor Klan activities. "It's almost like my file's getting dusty," Sheriff Frank Canarecci said. Sgt. Matt Blank, who has been keeping an eye on the Klan here, was philosophical about Loy's claim that membership is growing. "If you ask any member of the KKK how their membership is going ... of course they're going to say it's growing,'' Blank said. But, he added, "in this area, we really haven't seen it." Nancy J. Sulok's columns appear on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. You can reach her at nsulok@sbtinfo.com, or by writing c/o South Bend Tribune, 225 W. Colfax Ave., South Bend, IN 46626, telephone (574) 235-6234.